In love during a time of war

Thursday

Jun 28, 2007 at 12:01 AMJun 28, 2007 at 5:45 PM

They had the same mutual friends, the same interests and the same career goals. At sixteen, they were both scorekeepers at New England Sportscenter hockey rink yet Robert and Heather Bourn didn’t know a thing about each other.

John Fenuccio/News Staff Writer

They had the same mutual friends, the same interests and the same career goals. At sixteen, they were both scorekeepers at New England Sportscenter hockey rink yet Robert and Heather Bourn didn’t know a thing about each other.

Two years later they’re married.

Heather graduated from Keefe Tech and Robert from Assabet Valley Regional, both in 2004. Robert used to belonged to the Army’s 181 Delta Company based in Hudson but was moved to Charlie Company in Cambridge which will head to Iraq sometime after he leaves for training on July 9 – thus moving wedding plans up a few months to accommodate Robert’s departure.

“Everything was short notice because we wanted to get married in September but obviously he won’t be here so we decided instead of planning it and then having his travel extended which would ruin our wedding plans, we decided to get married quickly and have a reception when he gets back,” said Heather.

The couple moved to Westborough about a year ago and sought out the services of Justice of the Peace Tom Porada just two weeks prior to their wedding date. The couple didn’t know if they could find someone to marry them on short notice, but what they found out next was perhaps the biggest surprise.

“Tom Porada actually did this for us for free and it’s normally at least $400. It was a very thoughtful gesture on his part on such short notice being two weeks before the day we were married,” Heather said.

“I offer to do military weddings at no charge because it feels like the right thing to do,” said Porada.

“On the morning of Heather and Robert's wedding Robert called me and asked me if it was OK to bring along some extra family members. Usually I do office weddings with 2- 4 people maximum. So, with all the attendees I offered to perform the ceremony in my backyard next to my small fish pond. Thankfully the weather cooperated and it was a beautiful day,” Porada said.

While the two share many interests that attracted them to one another, Heather, shooting a sly smile towards Robert as if to warn him she’s about to reveal something, was also quick to note some of the differences they have.

“We have a few differences like music. I ride dirt bikes and he shoots guns, so I joined the gun club with him and his grandfather and when he gets back I’m going to buy him a dirt bike so we can ride together,” Heather said.

The two share a love of cars that ultimately started early on in both of their lives as they both love to work with their hands.

“I used to love taking my bicycle apart when I was younger,” Heather said.

“I’ve always loved riding around in cars that turn heads, I love the American Muscle cars,” Robert said.

Yet while the two share the same passion, Robert jokingly reveals an inner rift.

“I’ve always been a Dodge guy, her family’s all Chevrolet, and we’re always arguing,” Robert said.

After the wedding, the two jetted off to Moosehead Lake in Maine where they spent their honeymoon hunting, target shooting, fishing and playing poker – something Robert admits not to be so great at.

“I usually don’t play cards, I’m not a big card fan but I actually won while we were there so I did pretty good,” Robert said.

Robert comes from a family rooted in the military. His grandparents, “the greatest generation alive,” Robert said were in either the army or the navy. He initially wanted to join the Marine Corps but changed his mind after an Army recruiter went above and beyond to help him.

“I went to an Army recruiter named Staff Sergeant West Ling who actually took time out of his day and helped me clear some things up,” Robert said.

Prior incidents in Robert’s life prevented him from being able to enter the Marines initially but after Sgt. Ling’s help, he could have joined, but Robert had other ideas.

“He told me I’m cleared to be in any branch now even the Marines, but it was a loyalty thing with him because he worked so hard for me so I said yeah, I’d join up with you because I can always do something else later,” Robert said.

The events of September 11 urged many Americans to joined the armed services, including Robert..

“Everybody was pretty much telling me not to but I enlisted for the sole purpose of going to Iraq,” said Robert, as Heather quickly interjects jokingly saying, “Before he met me.”

“It was more or less because of September 11, as often as you hear it, and that’s pretty much everyone who enlisted after it, said September 11, but it’s the truth. I was going to enlist regardless, but September 11 really pushed it along. When I was a freshman in high school I was already talking to recruiters,” Robert said.

The reaction from friends and family surrounding the wedding announcement was much in the same as Robert announcing his plans to enlist.

“They weren’t against it but they were trying to tell us to have an extended engagement,” Robert said.

“They were shocked and there were the ones who wanted us to get married in a church, then there was his mother saying we should get married on the Fourth of July because we’ll never forget our anniversary,” Heather said.

Robert’s father suggested the two elope.

“But we couldn’t live with ourselves if we did that, or keep the secret for that whole year,” said Heather. “Eventually, when the day came, everyone’s attitude changed. There were a lot of people who were very supportive and more actually came than we invited which was nice.”

Both Heather and Robert work for separate plumbing and heating companies, a trade they both studied in school. Although Robert will take some time off while serving in Iraq, in addition to buying a home somewhere in the area, they’ve got their sites set high.

“We want to open our own plumbing and heating company,” said Heather. “I’m learning the business route now from my boss now and I’m going to have enough hours to get my journeyman’s license and he’ll get his when he returns home so we’ll both be apprentices. It will be good because I can do the office work and I’ll get dirty if we need it until we can hire a helper.”